Dear Neighbor,
It was a busy week at the Capitol with several omnibus bills coming before the House floor.
On Monday, the House debated the Health and Human Services omnibus bill. To me, this bill is a representation of misplaced priorities. The HHS budget is the second largest portion – 32% – of the overall state budget. This bill spends $11.212 billion yet puts forward a $26 million baseline cut to long-term care facilities like nursing homes and senior living while spending $7.3 million expanding the Department of Human Services, $45 million on the Statewide Health Improvement Program that’s duplicative of work performed by private corporations and non-profits, and $252,000 on a nurse-staff ratio study. Our priorities should be on funding our most vulnerable while eliminating wasteful spending that grows bureaucracy and puts money into duplicative programs.
On Wednesday, the Democrat tax bill was debated in the House. This tax proposal seeks to impose $2.6 billion in tax increases on hard-working Minnesotans and would us the second highest tax state in the nation. Many Democrats argued that the income tax portion of this bill only will affect the wealthy. That’s completely false. Taxes will go up for 60% of single filers making between $21,650 and $73,500 and go up for 83% of joint filers making between $31,650 and $130,000. Given our community’s proximity to Wisconsin, it would be fairly easy for those who live in our district to simply move across the border to become Wisconsin taxpayers. Is that really what Democrats want? If you have about five minutes, please watch my speech on the House floor during the tax debate here.
One of the bills I did support this week was the House Transportation Finance bill. It does not impose any new tax increases and prioritizes funding on roads, bridges, and infrastructure and includes funding for the Stillwater Bridge. The bill passed on a strong bipartisan vote of 101 to 30.
In case you missed it, be sure to read my column in the Stillwater Gazette on the minimum wage. Legislation to impose an increase in the minimum wage may come up for a vote next week.
Have a great weekend! Enjoy the beautiful weather!
As always, I am interested in your feedback. Please feel free to contact me by e-mail at Rep.Kathy.Lohmer@House.MN or contact my office at 651-296-4244. You can also send mail to my office address: 239 State Office Building, 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55155.
Sincerely,
Kathy